At first, it was suggested that the Bugatti Chiron would be able to reach 285mph, but Bugatti has inserted an electronic speed limiter into the vehicle because it cannot brake efficiently enough at such high speeds.
Speed maniacs have petitioned Bugatti to remove the speed limiter that restricted the vehicle to a top speed of 261mph, so the company agreed to have the electronic limiter disabled if the customer desires so. The Chiron features an astounding 8lt, quad-turbo, 1,500-horsepower engine. It is able to reach 285mph thanks to its four turbochargers. Bugatti calls it “the most powerful, the fastest, the most luxurious and the most exclusive production super sports car.”
A new standard for Bugatti and sports cars altogether
Following the motto “Form follows Performance,” the new Bugatti Chiron is the latest in both design and performance for mid-engined sports cars.
The Bugatti Chiron is based on the Veyron, which was named Car of the Decade by Top Gear. The Veyron was able to reach 267mph, nearly the speed to which the Chiron was limited. The Veyron was recognized by Guinness World Records as the fastest car in mass production allowed to hit the streets.
On the other hand, the Bugatti Chiron was designed to have a 25 percent increase in overall performance compared to the Veyron. Its design is entirely aerodynamic and aesthetically pleasing, featuring a very light rear wing that has been carefully crafted to improve the vehicle’s velocity compared to the Veyron. The rear wing can also be tilted at various angles to achieve different levels of dynamics, even serving as an air brake.
The car is mostly built out of carbon fiber to achieve a reduced weight and rigidity. The wheels were also designed to cause the least amount of turbulence and wind resistance when driving at high speeds.
The Bugatti Chiron also features dedicated air intakes to cool the brakes, so there is little chance of an accident because the brakes were overworked by trying to slow down this monster of a car. Bugatti claims that the Chiron’s engine needs 60,000 liters of air per minute.
Bugatti issued the speed limiter because there are very few places on Earth that will allow a driver to safely achieve a speed of 285mph. It is not a matter of speed itself, but of managing to stop the car without risk.
Volkswagen, Bugatti’s parent company, has a dedicated track for high-speed tests that gives the car enough room to achieve its top speed and then brake safely. These places are among the few that would allow the Chiron to show its true power.
One of the most popular places to perform high-velocity tests is the Bonneville Speedway, in the Utah desert. Most of the vehicles that head to the desert to break speed records are not available for retail sale.
The first vehicle that broke a speed record was Sir Malcolm Campbell’s Blue Bird in 1935, hitting the 301mph mark. Chiron deliveries will start in Fall 2016. Only 500 will be built, including some open-top models.
Source: Autoblog